Romeo and Juliet Act 5 Discussion

Scenes One - Two

Scenes One & Two Q: Romeo spots an old apothecary shop that sells odd things, like stuffed alligators and weird-looking fish. What does Romeo buy from this man? A: Poison

Scenes One & Two Q: It’s illegal for the apothecary to sell poison to Romeo. Why does the old man agree to make the transaction? A: He’s starving to death and needs the money.

Scenes One & Two Q: Friar John was supposed to deliver Friar Lawrence’s letter to Romeo in Mantua, but wasn’t able to do so. Why? A: Mantua officials were afraid Friar John has been tending to people dying of the plague and they wouldn’t let him into their town.

Scenes One & Two Q: Describe the dream that Romeo has just had at the beginning of Scene 1? A: He says he dreamed that he was dead (and that was weird because a dead man shouldn’t be able to be aware of what’s happening) when Juliet found his body. She kissed him and breathed life into him. He arose and became an emperor. This dream foreshadows the actual events later in the act, when Juliet will kiss Romeo’s just-deceased lips.

Scenes One & Two Q: Who brings news from Verona? What is the news? A: Romeo’s servant/friend Balthasar brings the mistaken news of Juliet’s death to Romeo.

Scenes One & Two Q: Write down three odd things Romeo noticed in the apothecary shop. A: The man himself was frail and miserable looking. His shop sold many odd things, including a stuffed alligator, weird-shaped fish, dusty seeds, and rose petals that might once have been used to make perfume.

Scenes One & Two Q: Why is it difficult to get poison in Mantua? Why does Romeo believe this apothecary will sell him some despite this? A: It is illegal to sell poison, but Romeo believe the apothecary will sell some to him because the man looks like he’s starving to death.

Scenes One & Two Q: In Scene 2, what is Friar John’s excuse for not having delivered the letter to Romeo? A: He tried to enter Mantua to deliver the letter, but the guardsmen of the city wouldn’t let him in because they believed he had been ministering to sick people dying of the plague. For health and safety reasons, he was refused entrance into the city, so he returned to Verona. Friar Laurence’s letter was never delivered.

Scenes One & Two Q: What is Friar Laurence’s plan of action once he realizes Romeo hasn’t received his letter? A: He’ll send another letter to inform Romeo of what’s been happening with Juliet. In the meantime, the Friar will go gather Juliet from the tomb; she’s set to wake up soon and he doesn’t want her in that creepy place alone and scared.

Scene Three

Scene Three Q: How many total people die or are reported dead in this final scene? A: Four – Paris, Romeo, Juliet, Lady Montague

Scene Three Q: After Romeo has died, Juliet awakens and realizes that her beloved has poisoned himself. She kisses him goodbye and weeps because of what specific realization? A: His lips are warm. They missed each other my mere minutes.

Scene Three Q: What piece of physical evidence does the Prince receive that confirms the Friar’s story? A: A letter written by Romeo. He had given it to Balthasar to deliver to his father.

Scene Three Q: Who is the first person to arrive at Juliet’s tomb in Scene 3? Why is he there? A: Paris is the first person at the tomb. He’s come to privately grieve over his dead fiancee and leave flowers over her corpse.

Scene Three Q: Explain Paris’ logic in thinking that Romeo is responsible for Juliet killing herself. A: He believes that Juliet died from the grief she felt over Tybalt’s slaying.

Scene Three Q: Did Paris love Juliet? Give evidence to support your answer. A: Paris could not have loved Juliet because he never really got to talk to her or know her. The same, however, could be said of Romeo. Most students say that Paris did love Juliet, in a way. He’s upset about her death and has come at night to grieve alone. He also dies defending Juliet and the Capulet family honor. Even if you don’t like Paris, you have to respect that he tries to do the right thing.

Scene Three Q: Romeo comments that Juliet looks just as beautiful in death as she did in life, with roses in her cheeks and lips. He doesn’t realize that the “death” is just a potion that’s wearing off. Instead, why does he figure Juliet is still so beautiful? A: He says that Death must want Juliet to be his lover, so he’s keeping her beauty intact.

Scene Three Q: Does Juliet wake up just before Romeo dies or just after? A: She wakes up just after he dies.

Scene Three Q: Who is present when Juliet awakens? Why doesn’t this person stay? A: The Friar is there when Juliet awakens. He doesn’t want to stay because he hears people approaching and he knows he’ll be in trouble for his role in the misadventure. He runs away and leaves Juliet by herself in the tomb.

Scene Three Q: Why does Juliet kiss Romeo’s lips even after he already died? A: She spots the vial of poison and hopes there’s enough poison left on his lips to allow her to die, as well.

Scene Three Q: Juliet says, “Thy lips are warm!” This is, quite arguably, one of the saddest lines in the entire play. Why are these four little words so meaningful? A: They missed each other by mere minutes. The plan was so close to working out, but tragedy resulted instead.

Scene Three Q: How does Juliet kill herself? A: She stabs herself in the chest with Romeo’s knife.

Scene Three Q: Which two characters are detained by the watchmen after Juliet’s death? A: The watchmen catch both Balthasar and Friar Laurence. Both are brought back to the tomb to explain themselves.

Scene Three Q: Who else died tonight? How do we find out? A: Lady Montague also died earlier this evening. Lord Montague tells everyone at the Capulet tomb that grief over Romeo’s banishment led to his wife’s heart stopping.

Scene Three Q: How many people died in this play? List their names in order of their deaths. A: Six people died. 1. Mercutio 2. Tybalt 3. Lady Montague 4. Paris 5. Romeo 6. Juliet

Scene Three Q: Rewrite the final six lines of the play in your own words. A: As the day begins, the sky is gloomy and so is the peace pact that’s just been struck. The sun is too sad to show itself. Everyone should go forward into the day, talking about all of the sad things we’ve just learned about. Some people will be excused for the role they played in the scheme/deaths; others will be punished. There was never a sadder story than the one of Romeo and Juliet.